Slip and Fall Injuries in Grocery Stores During Thanksgiving Shopping: What to Do if You’re Injured

Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude, family, and feasting, but before the turkey ever hits the table, there’s one final trial every holiday host must face: the Great Grocery Gauntlet.

From battling over the last can of pumpkin purée to navigating a sea of shopping carts, Thanksgiving grocery runs are an American tradition. Unfortunately, they’re also one of the most common times for slip and fall accidents to occur in supermarkets, when “turkey trot” can take on a whole new meaning.

If you’ve ever witnessed the chaos of a grocery store the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, you know it’s a perfect storm: wet floors, overstocked aisles, distracted shoppers, and stressed employees rushing to restock cranberry sauce. 

All it takes is one spill or one unnoticed puddle in the produce section to send your Thanksgiving plans (and your back) crashing to the floor.

Why Grocery Stores Become Slip & Fall Zones During the Holidays

Slip and fall accidents can happen anywhere, anytime, but grocery stores are particularly risky during the Thanksgiving rush. Here’s why:

• Spills Happen, a Lot: Between leaking turkeys, melting ice bags, and crushed cranberries, the floors can turn into skating rinks fast.
• High Foot Traffic: More shoppers mean more messes and less time for employees to clean them up.
• Weather Hazards: Rain, sleet, or even early snow can get tracked in by customers, leaving entryways slick.
• Crowded Aisles: Everyone’s in a hurry, and it’s easy to miss a “Wet Floor” sign when you’re laser-focused on snagging the last dinner roll.

All these factors add up to a greater risk of serious injury, especially for older adults or anyone with mobility issues.

Common Injuries From Grocery Store Falls

While some slip and fall accidents result in nothing more than embarrassment, others can lead to painful, long-lasting injuries. Common ones include:

• Fractures or broken bones
• Concussions or traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Back or spinal injuries
• Sprains and torn ligaments
• Hip injuries

Even a seemingly minor fall can lead to major medical bills, missed work, and ongoing pain, turning your holiday season upside down.

Who’s Liable for a Slip & Fall in a Grocery Store?

In most cases, grocery stores have a legal duty to keep their premises reasonably safe for customers. That means promptly cleaning up spills, placing warning signs near hazards, and maintaining proper lighting and flooring.

If store employees knew or should have known about a dangerous condition and failed to address it, the store may be liable for your injuries.

Proving negligence often comes down to evidence, like security footage, witness statements, and incident reports. So if you’re ever injured in a fall:

1. Report it immediately to a store manager.
2. Take photos of the scene, your clothes, and the hazard.
3. Get contact information from any witnesses.
4. Seek medical attention—even if you feel okay at first.
5. Contact Morgan & Morgan as soon as possible.
   
    

Store Workers Aren’t Immune Either

It’s not just shoppers who face danger. Grocery store employees often work long hours on slippery floors, especially during the Thanksgiving rush. If an employee slips and gets hurt on the job, they may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, including coverage for medical expenses and lost wages.

How Morgan & Morgan Can Help

If your Thanksgiving shopping trip ends in an injury instead of a successful feast, you don’t have to deal with it alone. At Morgan & Morgan, we’ve spent more than 35 years standing up for the injured, whether you slipped on spilled gravy or tripped over a stray frozen turkey.

Our attorneys can help you determine whether you have a valid claim, gather the right evidence, and fight for the compensation you deserve. Because your focus should be on healing, not battling an insurance company.

A Few Final Tips to Stay Upright This Thanksgiving

Before you grab your shopping list and hit the aisles, keep these safety tips in mind:

• Wear shoes with good traction. This isn’t the time for smooth-soled loafers.
• Use a cart for balance (and turkey storage).
• Avoid distractions like texting while you walk.
• Stay alert in refrigerated and produce sections, where spills are most common.

And if you do take a tumble, remember: help is just a call away. Hiring one of our lawyers is as easy as pumpkin pie, and you can get started in minutes with a free case evaluation.